Whole body segmentation

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are disclosed for performing operations comprising: receiving a monocular image that includes a depiction of a whole body of a user; generating a segmentation of the whole body of the user based on the monocular image; accessing a video feed comprising a plurality of monocular images received prior to the monocular image; smoothing, using the video feed, the segmentation of the whole body generated based on the monocular image to provide a smoothed segmentation; and applying one or more visual effects to the monocular image based on the smoothed segmentation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to providing augmented realityexperiences using a messaging application.

BACKGROUND

Augmented-Reality (AR) is a modification of a virtual environment. Forexample, in Virtual Reality (VR), a user is completely immersed in avirtual world, whereas in AR, the user is immersed in a world wherevirtual objects are combined or superimposed on the real world. An ARsystem aims to generate and present virtual objects that interactrealistically with a real-world environment and with each other.Examples of AR applications can include single or multiple player videogames, instant messaging systems, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. To easily identifythe discussion of any particular element or act, the most significantdigit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number inwhich that element is first introduced. Some nonlimiting examples areillustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a networked environment inwhich the present disclosure may be deployed, in accordance with someexamples.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a messaging clientapplication, in accordance with some examples.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a data structure asmaintained in a database, in accordance with some examples.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a message, in accordance withsome examples.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example segmentation estimationsystem, according to example examples.

FIGS. 6-9 are diagrammatic representations of outputs of thesegmentation estimation system, in accordance with some examples.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are flowcharts illustrating example operations of themessaging application server, according to examples.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions may be executed forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein, in accordance with some examples.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a software architecture within whichexamples may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes systems, methods, techniques,instruction sequences, and computing machine program products thatembody illustrative examples of the disclosure. In the followingdescription, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific detailsare set forth in order to provide an understanding of various examples.It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art, that examplesmay be practiced without these specific details. In general, well-knowninstruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques are notnecessarily shown in detail.

Typically, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systemsdisplay modified images representing a given user by capturing an imageof the user and, in addition, obtaining a depth map using a depth sensorof the real-world human body depicted in the image. By processing thedepth map and the image together, the VR and AR systems can detectpositioning of a user in the image and can appropriately modify the useror background in the images. While such systems work well, the need fora depth sensor limits the scope of their applications. This is becauseadding depth sensors to user devices for the purpose of modifying imagesincreases the overall cost and complexity of the devices, making themless attractive.

Certain systems do away with the need to use depth sensors to modifyimages. For example, certain systems allow users to replace a backgroundin a videoconference in which a face of the user is detected.Specifically, such systems can use specialized techniques that areoptimized for recognizing a face of user to identify the background inthe images that depict the user's face. These systems can then replaceonly those pixels that depict the background so that the real-worldbackground is replaced with an alternate background in the images. Suchsystems though are incapable of recognizing a whole body of a user. Assuch, if the user is more than a threshold distance from the camera suchthat more than just the face of the user is captured by the camera, thereplacement of the background with an alternate background begins tofail. In such cases, the image quality is severely impacted and portionsof the face and body of the user can be inadvertently removed by thesystem as the system falsely identifies such portions are belonging tothe background rather than the foreground of the images. Also, suchsystems fail to properly replace the background when more than one useris depicted in the image or video feed.

The disclosed techniques improve the efficiency of using the electronicdevice by segmenting an image that depicts a whole body of a user ormultiple users and applying one or more visual effects to the image.Specifically, the disclosed techniques apply a first machine learningtechnique to generate a segmentation of a user's body from a singleimage of the user (e.g., to distinguish pixels corresponding to a bodyof the user from pixels corresponding to a background of the image). Thedisclosed techniques then smooth, filter or improve the generatedsegmentation based on an estimated segmentation of the body depicted inthe single image (e.g., a current frame of video) generated by applyinga second machine learning technique to previously received video framesof the user.

Specifically, a video depicting a user's body is received. A currentframe of the video is processed by a first machine learning technique tosegment the user's body in the current frame. A set of previous frames,such as 1-2 seconds of video preceding the current frame, is processedby a second machine learning technique to estimate a segmentation of thebody for a subsequent frame, such as the current frame. A comparison ismade between the segmentation for the current frame generated by thefirst machine learning technique and the estimated segmentationpredicted by the second machine learning technique based on the previousframes. Any deviation or difference between the two segmentations isthen corrected by the second machine learning technique to smooth,improve and filter the segmentation for the current frame generated bythe first machine learning technique.

In some examples, the disclosed techniques apply a first machinelearning technique to generate a segmentation of a user's body from asingle image of the user (e.g., to distinguish pixels corresponding to abody of the user from pixels corresponding to a background of theimage). This segmentation is stored and used to make adjustments orcorrections to a subsequent segmentation generated by the first machinelearning technique based on a subsequent frame or image that isreceived. Specifically, the disclosed techniques smooth, filter orimprove a segmentation generated for a second image (e.g., a subsequentframe) based on a previously generated segmentation of a first image(e.g., a previous frame). In such cases, only the first machine learningtechnique is used, and the second machine learning technique is not usedto smooth or generate segmentations.

In this way, the disclosed techniques can apply one or more visualeffects to the user's body that has been segmented in the current image.For example, a real-world background can be replaced with a differentimage or virtual background to provide an illusion that the user's wholebody is in a different environment or background. As another example, aborder of the user's body or portions of the user's body themselves canbe enhanced or replaced with visual elements (e.g., to dress the userwith different clothing or remove a display of one or more portions ofthe user). This improves the overall experience of the user in using theelectronic device. Also, by performing such segmentations without usinga depth sensor, the overall amount of system resources needed toaccomplish a task is reduced.

Networked Computing Environment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system 100 forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network.The messaging system 100 includes multiple instances of a client device102, each of which hosts a number of applications, including a messagingclient 104 and other external applications 109 (e.g., third-partyapplications). Each messaging client 104 is communicatively coupled toother instances of the messaging client 104 (e.g., hosted on respectiveother client devices 102), a messaging server system 108 and externalapp(s) servers 110 via a network 112 (e.g., the Internet). A messagingclient 104 can also communicate with locally-hosted third-partyapplications 109 using Applications Program Interfaces (APIs).

A messaging client 104 is able to communicate and exchange data withother messaging clients 104 and with the messaging server system 108 viathe network 112. The data exchanged between messaging clients 104, andbetween a messaging client 104 and the messaging server system 108,includes functions (e.g., commands to invoke functions) as well aspayload data (e.g., text, audio, video or other multimedia data).

The messaging server system 108 provides server-side functionality viathe network 112 to a particular messaging client 104. While certainfunctions of the messaging system 100 are described herein as beingperformed by either a messaging client 104 or by the messaging serversystem 108, the location of certain functionality either within themessaging client 104 or the messaging server system 108 may be a designchoice. For example, it may be technically preferable to initiallydeploy certain technology and functionality within the messaging serversystem 108 but to later migrate this technology and functionality to themessaging client 104 where a client device 102 has sufficient processingcapacity.

The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operationsthat are provided to the messaging client 104. Such operations includetransmitting data to, receiving data from, and processing data generatedby the messaging client 104. This data may include message content,client device information, geolocation information, media augmentationand overlays, message content persistence conditions, social networkinformation, and live event information, as examples. Data exchangeswithin the messaging system 100 are invoked and controlled throughfunctions available via user interfaces (UIs) of the messaging client104.

Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, anApplication Program Interface (API) server 116 is coupled to, andprovides a programmatic interface to, application servers 114. Theapplication servers 114 are communicatively coupled to a database server120, which facilitates access to a database 126 that stores dataassociated with messages processed by the application servers 114.Similarly, a web server 128 is coupled to the application servers 114,and provides web-based interfaces to the application servers 114. Tothis end, the web server 128 processes incoming network requests overthe Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and several other relatedprotocols.

The Application Program Interface (API) server 116 receives andtransmits message data (e.g., commands and message payloads) between theclient device 102 and the application servers 114. Specifically, theApplication Program Interface (API) server 116 provides a set ofinterfaces (e.g., routines and protocols) that can be called or queriedby the messaging client 104 in order to invoke functionality of theapplication servers 114. The Application Program Interface (API) server116 exposes various functions supported by the application servers 114,including account registration, login functionality, the sending ofmessages, via the application servers 114, from a particular messagingclient 104 to another messaging client 104, the sending of media files(e.g., images or video) from a messaging client 104 to a messagingserver 118, and for possible access by another messaging client 104, thesettings of a collection of media data (e.g., story), the retrieval of alist of friends of a user of a client device 102, the retrieval of suchcollections, the retrieval of messages and content, the addition anddeletion of entities (e.g., friends) to an entity graph (e.g., a socialgraph), the location of friends within a social graph, and opening anapplication event (e.g., relating to the messaging client 104).

The application servers 114 host a number of server applications andsubsystems, including for example a messaging server 118, an imageprocessing server 122, and a social network server 124. The messagingserver 118 implements a number of message processing technologies andfunctions, particularly related to the aggregation and other processingof content (e.g., textual and multimedia content) included in messagesreceived from multiple instances of the messaging client 104. As will bedescribed in further detail, the text and media content from multiplesources may be aggregated into collections of content (e.g., calledstories or galleries). These collections are then made available to themessaging client 104. Other processor- and memory-intensive processingof data may also be performed server-side by the messaging server 118,in view of the hardware requirements for such processing.

The application servers 114 also include an image processing server 122that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations,typically with respect to images or video within the payload of amessage sent from or received at the messaging server 118.

Image processing server 122 is used to implement scan functionality ofthe augmentation system 208. Scan functionality includes activating andproviding one or more augmented reality experiences on a client device102 when an image is captured by the client device 102. Specifically,the messaging client 104 on the client device 102 can be used toactivate a camera. The camera displays one or more real-time images or avideo to a user along with one or more icons or identifiers of one ormore augmented reality experiences. The user can select a given one ofthe identifiers to launch the corresponding augmented reality experienceor perform a desired image modification (e.g., replacing a background orportions of one or more joints of the user's body).

The social network server 124 supports various social networkingfunctions and services and makes these functions and services availableto the messaging server 118. To this end, the social network server 124maintains and accesses an entity graph 308 (as shown in FIG. 3) withinthe database 126. Examples of functions and services supported by thesocial network server 124 include the identification of other users ofthe messaging system 100 with which a particular user has relationshipsor is “following,” and also the identification of other entities andinterests of a particular user.

Returning to the messaging client 104, features and functions of anexternal resource (e.g., a third-party application 109 or applet) aremade available to a user via an interface of the messaging client 104.The messaging client 104 receives a user selection of an option tolaunch or access features of an external resource (e.g., a third-partyresource), such as external apps 109. The external resource may be athird-party application (external apps 109) installed on the clientdevice 102 (e.g., a “native app”), or a small-scale version of thethird-party application (e.g., an “applet”) that is hosted on the clientdevice 102 or remote of the client device 102 (e.g., on third-partyservers 110). The small-scale version of the third-party applicationincludes a subset of features and functions of the third-partyapplication (e.g., the full-scale, native version of the third-partystandalone application) and is implemented using a markup-languagedocument. In one example, the small-scale version of the third-partyapplication (e.g., an “applet”) is a web-based, markup-language versionof the third-party application and is embedded in the messaging client104. In addition to using markup-language documents (e.g., a .*ml file),an applet may incorporate a scripting language (e.g., a .*js file or a.json file) and a style sheet (e.g., a .*ss file).

In response to receiving a user selection of the option to launch oraccess features of the external resource (external app 109), themessaging client 104 determines whether the selected external resourceis a web-based external resource or a locally-installed externalapplication. In some cases, external applications 109 that are locallyinstalled on the client device 102 can be launched independently of andseparately from the messaging client 104, such as by selecting an icon,corresponding to the external application 109, on a home screen of theclient device 102. Small-scale versions of such external applicationscan be launched or accessed via the messaging client 104 and, in someexamples, no or limited portions of the small-scale external applicationcan be accessed outside of the messaging client 104. The small-scaleexternal application can be launched by the messaging client 104receiving, from a external app(s) server 110, a markup-language documentassociated with the small-scale external application and processing sucha document.

In response to determining that the external resource is alocally-installed external application 109, the messaging client 104instructs the client device 102 to launch the external application 109by executing locally-stored code corresponding to the externalapplication 109. In response to determining that the external resourceis a web-based resource, the messaging client 104 communicates with theexternal app(s) servers 110 to obtain a markup-language documentcorresponding to the selected resource. The messaging client 104 thenprocesses the obtained markup-language document to present the web-basedexternal resource within a user interface of the messaging client 104.

The messaging client 104 can notify a user of the client device 102, orother users related to such a user (e.g., “friends”), of activity takingplace in one or more external resources. For example, the messagingclient 104 can provide participants in a conversation (e.g., a chatsession) in the messaging client 104 with notifications relating to thecurrent or recent use of an external resource by one or more members ofa group of users. One or more users can be invited to join in an activeexternal resource or to launch a recently-used but currently inactive(in the group of friends) external resource. The external resource canprovide participants in a conversation, each using a respectivemessaging client messaging clients 104, with the ability to share anitem, status, state, or location in an external resource with one ormore members of a group of users into a chat session. The shared itemmay be an interactive chat card with which members of the chat caninteract, for example, to launch the corresponding external resource,view specific information within the external resource, or take themember of the chat to a specific location or state within the externalresource. Within a given external resource, response messages can besent to users on the messaging client 104. The external resource canselectively include different media items in the responses, based on acurrent context of the external resource.

The messaging client 104 can present a list of the available externalresources (e.g., third-party or external applications 109 or applets) toa user to launch or access a given external resource. This list can bepresented in a context-sensitive menu. For example, the iconsrepresenting different ones of the external application 109 (or applets)can vary based on how the menu is launched by the user (e.g., from aconversation interface or from a non-conversation interface).

System Architecture

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating further details regarding themessaging system 100, according to some examples. Specifically, themessaging system 100 is shown to comprise the messaging client 104 andthe application servers 114. The messaging system 100 embodies a numberof subsystems, which are supported on the client side by the messagingclient 104 and on the sever side by the application servers 114. Thesesubsystems include, for example, an ephemeral timer system 202, acollection management system 204, an augmentation system 208, a mapsystem 210, a game system 212, and an external resource system 220.

The ephemeral timer system 202 is responsible for enforcing thetemporary or time-limited access to content by the messaging client 104and the messaging server 118. The ephemeral timer system 202incorporates a number of timers that, based on duration and displayparameters associated with a message, or collection of messages (e.g., astory), selectively enable access (e.g., for presentation and display)to messages and associated content via the messaging client 104. Furtherdetails regarding the operation of the ephemeral timer system 202 areprovided below.

The collection management system 204 is responsible for managing sets orcollections of media (e.g., collections of text, image video, and audiodata). A collection of content (e.g., messages, including images, video,text, and audio) may be organized into an “event gallery” or an “eventstory.” Such a collection may be made available for a specified timeperiod, such as the duration of an event to which the content relates.For example, content relating to a music concert may be made availableas a “story” for the duration of that music concert. The collectionmanagement system 204 may also be responsible for publishing an iconthat provides notification of the existence of a particular collectionto the user interface of the messaging client 104.

The collection management system 204 furthermore includes a curationinterface 206 that allows a collection manager to manage and curate aparticular collection of content. For example, the curation interface206 enables an event organizer to curate a collection of contentrelating to a specific event (e.g., delete inappropriate content orredundant messages). Additionally, the collection management system 204employs machine vision (or image recognition technology) and contentrules to automatically curate a content collection. In certain examples,compensation may be paid to a user for the inclusion of user-generatedcontent into a collection. In such cases, the collection managementsystem 204 operates to automatically make payments to such users for theuse of their content.

The augmentation system 208 provides various functions that enable auser to augment (e.g., annotate or otherwise modify or edit) mediacontent associated with a message. For example, the augmentation system208 provides functions related to the generation and publishing of mediaoverlays for messages processed by the messaging system 100. Theaugmentation system 208 operatively supplies a media overlay oraugmentation (e.g., an image filter) to the messaging client 104 basedon a geolocation of the client device 102. In another example, theaugmentation system 208 operatively supplies a media overlay to themessaging client 104 based on other information, such as social networkinformation of the user of the client device 102. A media overlay mayinclude audio and visual content and visual effects. Examples of audioand visual content include pictures, texts, logos, animations, and soundeffects. An example of a visual effect includes color overlaying. Theaudio and visual content or the visual effects can be applied to a mediacontent item (e.g., a photo) at the client device 102. For example, themedia overlay may include text, a graphical element, or image that canbe overlaid on top of a photograph taken by the client device 102. Inanother example, the media overlay includes an identification of alocation overlay (e.g., Venice beach), a name of a live event, or a nameof a merchant overlay (e.g., Beach Coffee House). In another example,the augmentation system 208 uses the geolocation of the client device102 to identify a media overlay that includes the name of a merchant atthe geolocation of the client device 102. The media overlay may includeother indicia associated with the merchant. The media overlays may bestored in the database 126 and accessed through the database server 120.

In some examples, the augmentation system 208 provides a user-basedpublication platform that enables users to select a geolocation on a mapand upload content associated with the selected geolocation. The usermay also specify circumstances under which a particular media overlayshould be offered to other users. The augmentation system 208 generatesa media overlay that includes the uploaded content and associates theuploaded content with the selected geolocation.

In other examples, the augmentation system 208 provides a merchant-basedpublication platform that enables merchants to select a particular mediaoverlay associated with a geolocation via a bidding process. Forexample, the augmentation system 208 associates the media overlay of thehighest bidding merchant with a corresponding geolocation for apredefined amount of time. The augmentation system 208 communicates withthe image processing server 122 to obtain augmented reality experiencesand presents identifiers of such experiences in one or more userinterfaces (e.g., as icons over a real-time image or video or asthumbnails or icons in interfaces dedicated for presented identifiers ofaugmented reality experiences). Once an augmented reality experience isselected, one or more images, videos, or augmented reality graphicalelements are retrieved and presented as an overlay on top of the imagesor video captured by the client device 102. In some cases, the camera isswitched to a front-facing view (e.g., the front-facing camera of theclient device 102 is activated in response to activation of a particularaugmented reality experience) and the images from the front-facingcamera of the client device 102 start being displayed on the clientdevice 102 instead of the rear-facing camera of the client device 102.The one or more images, videos, or augmented reality graphical elementsare retrieved and presented as an overlay on top of the images that arecaptured and displayed by the front-facing camera of the client device102.

In other examples, the augmentation system 208 is able to communicateand exchange data with another augmentation system 208 on another clientdevice 102 and with the server via the network 106. The data exchangedcan include a session identifier that identifies the shared AR session,a transformation between a first client device 102 and a second clientdevice 102 (e.g., a plurality of client devices 102 include the firstand second devices) that is used to align the shared AR session to acommon point of origin, a common coordinate frame, functions (e.g.,commands to invoke functions) as well as other payload data (e.g., text,audio, video or other multimedia data).

The augmentation system 208 sends the transformation to the secondclient device 102 so that the second client device 102 can adjust the ARcoordinate system based on the transformation. In this way, the firstand second client devices 102 synch up their coordinate systems andframes for displaying content in the AR session. Specifically, theaugmentation system 208 computes the point of origin of the secondclient device 102 in the coordinate system of the first client device102. The augmentation system 208 can then determine an offset in thecoordinate system of the second client device 102 based on the positionof the point of origin from the perspective of the second client device102 in the coordinate system of the second client device 102. Thisoffset is used to generate the transformation so that the second clientdevice 102 generates AR content in according to a common coordinatesystem or frame as the first client device 102.

The augmentation system 208 that can communicate with the client device102 to establish individual or shared AR sessions. The augmentationsystem 208 can also be coupled to the messaging server 118 to establishan electronic group communication session (e.g., group chat, instantmessaging) for the client devices 102 in a shared AR session. Theelectronic group communication session can be associated with a sessionidentifier provided by the client devices 102 to gain access to theelectronic group communication session and to the shared AR session. Inone example, the client devices 102 first gain access to the electronicgroup communication session and then obtain the session identifier inthe electronic group communication session that allows the clientdevices 102 to access to the shared AR session. In some examples, theclient devices 102 are able to access the shared AR session without aidor communication with the augmentation system 208 in the applicationservers 114.

The map system 210 provides various geographic location functions, andsupports the presentation of map-based media content and messages by themessaging client 104. For example, the map system 210 enables thedisplay of user icons or avatars (e.g., stored in profile data 316) on amap to indicate a current or past location of “friends” of a user, aswell as media content (e.g., collections of messages includingphotographs and videos) generated by such friends, within the context ofa map. For example, a message posted by a user to the messaging system100 from a specific geographic location may be displayed within thecontext of a map at that particular location to “friends” of a specificuser on a map interface of the messaging client 104. A user canfurthermore share his or her location and status information (e.g.,using an appropriate status avatar) with other users of the messagingsystem 100 via the messaging client 104, with this location and statusinformation being similarly displayed within the context of a mapinterface of the messaging client 104 to selected users.

The game system 212 provides various gaming functions within the contextof the messaging client 104. The messaging client 104 provides a gameinterface providing a list of available games (e.g., web-based games orweb-based applications) that can be launched by a user within thecontext of the messaging client 104, and played with other users of themessaging system 100. The messaging system 100 further enables aparticular user to invite other users to participate in the play of aspecific game, by issuing invitations to such other users from themessaging client 104. The messaging client 104 also supports both voiceand text messaging (e.g., chats) within the context of gameplay,provides a leaderboard for the games, and also supports the provision ofin-game rewards (e.g., coins and items).

The external resource system 220 provides an interface for the messagingclient 104 to communicate with external app(s) servers 110 to launch oraccess external resources. Each external resource (apps) server 110hosts, for example, a markup language (e.g., HTML5) based application orsmall-scale version of an external application (e.g., game, utility,payment, or ride-sharing application that is external to the messagingclient 104). The messaging client 104 may launch a web-based resource(e.g., application) by accessing the HTML5 file from the externalresource (apps) servers 110 associated with the web-based resource. Incertain examples, applications hosted by external resource servers 110are programmed in JavaScript leveraging a Software Development Kit (SDK)provided by the messaging server 118. The SDK includes ApplicationProgramming Interfaces (APIs) with functions that can be called orinvoked by the web-based application. In certain examples, the messagingserver 118 includes a JavaScript library that provides a giventhird-party resource access to certain user data of the messaging client104. HTML5 is used as an example technology for programming games, butapplications and resources programmed based on other technologies can beused.

In order to integrate the functions of the SDK into the web-basedresource, the SDK is downloaded by an external resource (apps) server110 from the messaging server 118 or is otherwise received by theexternal resource (apps) server 110. Once downloaded or received, theSDK is included as part of the application code of a web-based externalresource. The code of the web-based resource can then call or invokecertain functions of the SDK to integrate features of the messagingclient 104 into the web-based resource.

The SDK stored on the messaging server 118 effectively provides thebridge between an external resource (e.g., third-party or externalapplications 109 or applets and the messaging client 104). This providesthe user with a seamless experience of communicating with other users onthe messaging client 104, while also preserving the look and feel of themessaging client 104. To bridge communications between an externalresource and a messaging client 104, in certain examples, the SDKfacilitates communication between external resource servers 110 and themessaging client 104. In certain examples, a WebViewJavaScriptBridgerunning on a client device 102 establishes two one-way communicationchannels between a external resource and the messaging client 104.Messages are sent between the external resource and the messaging client104 via these communication channels asynchronously. Each SDK functioninvocation is sent as a message and callback. Each SDK function isimplemented by constructing a unique callback identifier and sending amessage with that callback identifier.

By using the SDK, not all information from the messaging client 104 isshared with external resource servers 110. The SDK limits whichinformation is shared based on the needs of the external resource. Incertain examples, each external resource server 110 provides an HTML5file corresponding to the web-based external resource to the messagingserver 118. The messaging server 118 can add a visual representation(such as a box art or other graphic) of the web-based external resourcein the messaging client 104. Once the user selects the visualrepresentation or instructs the messaging client 104 through a GUI ofthe messaging client 104 to access features of the web-based externalresource, the messaging client 104 obtains the HTML5 file andinstantiates the resources necessary to access the features of theweb-based external resource.

The messaging client 104 presents a graphical user interface (e.g., alanding page or title screen) for an external resource. During, before,or after presenting the landing page or title screen, the messagingclient 104 determines whether the launched external resource has beenpreviously authorized to access user data of the messaging client 104.In response to determining that the launched external resource has beenpreviously authorized to access user data of the messaging client 104,the messaging client 104 presents another graphical user interface ofthe external resource that includes functions and features of theexternal resource. In response to determining that the launched externalresource has not been previously authorized to access user data of themessaging client 104, after a threshold period of time (e.g., 3 seconds)of displaying the landing page or title screen of the external resource,the messaging client 104 slides up (e.g., animates a menu as surfacingfrom a bottom of the screen to a middle of or other portion of thescreen) a menu for authorizing the external resource to access the userdata. The menu identifies the type of user data that the externalresource will be authorized to use. In response to receiving a userselection of an accept option, the messaging client 104 adds theexternal resource to a list of authorized external resources and allowsthe external resource to access user data from the messaging client 104.In some examples, the external resource is authorized by the messagingclient 104 to access the user data in accordance with an OAuth 2framework.

The messaging client 104 controls the type of user data that is sharedwith external resources based on the type of external resource beingauthorized. For example, external resources that include full-scaleexternal applications (e.g., a third-party or external application 109)are provided with access to a first type of user data (e.g., onlytwo-dimensional avatars of users with or without different avatarcharacteristics). As another example, external resources that includesmall-scale versions of external applications (e.g., web-based versionsof third-party applications) are provided with access to a second typeof user data (e.g., payment information, two-dimensional avatars ofusers, three-dimensional avatars of users, and avatars with variousavatar characteristics). Avatar characteristics include different waysto customize a look and feel of an avatar, such as different poses,facial features, clothing, and so forth.

The segmentation estimation system 224 segments a user's whole bodydepicted in an image or multiple bodies of multiple users depicted in animage. As referred to herein, a “whole body” of the user includes apredetermined combination of one or more skeletal body parts or jointsof the user (e.g., a combination of a head joint, shoulder joints, andarm joints; a combination of shoulder joints and a hip joint; or acombination of a head joint, shoulder joints, hip joints, and legjoints). The segmentation estimation system 224 can perform objectrecognition on the captured video feed to detect presence of one or moreskeletal joints of a user. In response to determining that the detectedskeletal joints match a predetermined combination, the segmentationestimation system 224 determines that the whole body of the user isdepicted in the video feed. An illustrative implementation of thesegmentation estimation system 224 is shown and described in connectionwith FIG. 5 below.

Specifically, the segmentation estimation system 224 is a component thatcan be accessed by an AR/VR application implemented on the client device102. The AR/VR application uses an RGB camera to capture a monocularimage of a user's real-world body. The AR/VR application applies varioustrained machine learning techniques on the captured image of the bodyand one or more previous frames depicting the body to segment the bodyof the user in the image and to apply one or more visual effects to thecaptured image. In some implementations, the AR/VR applicationcontinuously captures images of the user's body in real time orperiodically to continuously or periodically update the applied one ormore visual effects. This allows the user to move around in the realworld and see the one or more visual effects update in real time.

In order for AR/VR application to apply the one or more visual effectsdirectly from a captured RGB image, the AR/VR application obtains afirst trained machine learning technique from the segmentationestimation system 224. The first trained machine learning techniqueprocesses the captured RGB image to generate a segmentation from thecaptured image that correspond to the body depicted in the captured RGBimage. The AR/VR application also obtains a second trained machinelearning technique from the segmentation estimation system 224. Thesecond trained machine learning technique processes one or morepreviously captured frames (e.g., 1-2 seconds of video frames thatimmediately precede the RGB image) to estimate or predict a segmentationfor a subsequent frame. A threshold number of seconds of video frames(which may be user defined, previously specified, and/or dynamicallydetermined) may continuously or periodically be stored in a buffer, suchthat the threshold number of seconds worth of video frames that precedesa current RGB image can be accessed by the second trained machinelearning technique. The output or prediction of the segmentation of thesecond trained machine learning technique is used to smooth, filter orimprove the segmentation generated by the first trained machine learningtechnique.

In training, the segmentation estimation system 224 obtains a firstplurality of input training images that include different real-worldbodies of users. These training images also provide the ground truthinformation about the segmentations of the bodies depicted in eachimage. A first machine learning technique (e.g., a deep neural network)is trained based on features of the plurality of training images.Specifically, the first machine learning technique extracts one or morefeatures from a given training image and estimates a segmentation of thebody. The first machine learning technique obtains the ground truthinformation corresponding to the training image and adjusts or updatesone or more coefficients to improve subsequent estimations ofsegmentations.

In training, the segmentation estimation system 224 obtains a firstplurality of input training videos (each having a number of framescorresponding to a threshold video duration, such as 1-2 seconds) thatinclude different real-world bodies. These training videos also providethe ground truth information with segmentations of bodies for asubsequent frame relative to each video. Namely, a first training videomay be associated with ground truth information identifying thesegmentation of a body depicted in a frame immediately subsequent to agiven frame in the first training video. A second machine learningtechnique (e.g., a neural network) is trained based on features of theplurality of training videos. Specifically, the second machine learningtechnique extracts one or more features from a given training video andestimates or predicts segmentations of the body in a subsequent framerelative to a previous frame of the training video. The second machinelearning technique obtains the ground truth information corresponding tothe training video and adjusts or updates one or more coefficients toimprove subsequent estimations of segmentations of bodies depicted in asubsequent video.

Data Architecture

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating data structures 300, whichmay be stored in the database 126 of the messaging server system 108,according to certain examples. While the content of the database 126 isshown to comprise a number of tables, it will be appreciated that thedata could be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as anobject-oriented database).

The database 126 includes message data stored within a message table302. This message data includes, for any particular one message, atleast message sender data, message recipient (or receiver) data, and apayload. Further details regarding information that may be included in amessage, and included within the message data stored in the messagetable 302, is described below with reference to FIG. 4.

An entity table 306 stores entity data, and is linked (e.g.,referentially) to an entity graph 308 and profile data 316. Entities forwhich records are maintained within the entity table 306 may includeindividuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects, places, events,and so forth. Regardless of entity type, any entity regarding which themessaging server system 108 stores data may be a recognized entity. Eachentity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as an entity typeidentifier (not shown).

The entity graph 308 stores information regarding relationships andassociations between entities. Such relationships may be social,professional (e.g., work at a common corporation or organization)interested-based or activity-based, merely for example.

The profile data 316 stores multiple types of profile data about aparticular entity. The profile data 316 may be selectively used andpresented to other users of the messaging system 100, based on privacysettings specified by a particular entity. Where the entity is anindividual, the profile data 316 includes, for example, a user name,telephone number, address, settings (e.g., notification and privacysettings), as well as a user-selected avatar representation (orcollection of such avatar representations). A particular user may thenselectively include one or more of these avatar representations withinthe content of messages communicated via the messaging system 100, andon map interfaces displayed by messaging clients 104 to other users. Thecollection of avatar representations may include “status avatars,” whichpresent a graphical representation of a status or activity that the usermay select to communicate at a particular time.

Where the entity is a group, the profile data 316 for the group maysimilarly include one or more avatar representations associated with thegroup, in addition to the group name, members, and various settings(e.g., notifications) for the relevant group.

The database 126 also stores augmentation data, such as overlays orfilters, in an augmentation table 310. The augmentation data isassociated with and applied to videos (for which data is stored in avideo table 304) and images (for which data is stored in an image table312).

The database 126 can also store data pertaining to individual and sharedAR sessions. This data can include data communicated between an ARsession client controller of a first client device 102 and another ARsession client controller of a second client device 102, and datacommunicated between the AR session client controller and theaugmentation system 208. Data can include data used to establish thecommon coordinate frame of the shared AR scene, the transformationbetween the devices, the session identifier, images depicting a body,skeletal joint positions, wrist joint positions, feet, and so forth.

Filters, in one example, are overlays that are displayed as overlaid onan image or video during presentation to a recipient user. Filters maybe of various types, including user-selected filters from a set offilters presented to a sending user by the messaging client 104 when thesending user is composing a message. Other types of filters includegeolocation filters (also known as geo-filters), which may be presentedto a sending user based on geographic location. For example, geolocationfilters specific to a neighborhood or special location may be presentedwithin a user interface by the messaging client 104, based ongeolocation information determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS)unit of the client device 102.

Another type of filter is a data filter, which may be selectivelypresented to a sending user by the messaging client 104, based on otherinputs or information gathered by the client device 102 during themessage creation process. Examples of data filters include currenttemperature at a specific location, a current speed at which a sendinguser is traveling, battery life for a client device 102, or the currenttime.

Other augmentation data that may be stored within the image table 312includes augmented reality content items (e.g., corresponding toapplying augmented reality experiences). An augmented reality contentitem or augmented reality item may be a real-time special effect andsound that may be added to an image or a video.

As described above, augmentation data includes augmented reality contentitems, overlays, image transformations, AR images, and similar termsthat refer to modifications that may be applied to image data (e.g.,videos or images). This includes real-time modifications, which modifyan image as it is captured using device sensors (e.g., one or multiplecameras) of a client device 102 and then displayed on a screen of theclient device 102 with the modifications. This also includesmodifications to stored content, such as video clips in a gallery thatmay be modified. For example, in a client device 102 with access tomultiple augmented reality content items, a user can use a single videoclip with multiple augmented reality content items to see how thedifferent augmented reality content items will modify the stored clip.For example, multiple augmented reality content items that applydifferent pseudorandom movement models can be applied to the samecontent by selecting different augmented reality content items for thecontent. Similarly, real-time video capture may be used with anillustrated modification to show how video images currently beingcaptured by sensors of a client device 102 would modify the captureddata. Such data may simply be displayed on the screen and not stored inmemory, or the content captured by the device sensors may be recordedand stored in memory with or without the modifications (or both). Insome systems, a preview feature can show how different augmented realitycontent items will look within different windows in a display at thesame time. This can, for example, enable multiple windows with differentpseudorandom animations to be viewed on a display at the same time.

Data and various systems using augmented reality content items or othersuch transform systems to modify content using this data can thusinvolve detection of objects (e.g., faces, hands, bodies, cats, dogs,surfaces, objects, etc.), tracking of such objects as they leave, enter,and move around the field of view in video frames, and the modificationor transformation of such objects as they are tracked. In variousexamples, different methods for achieving such transformations may beused. Some examples may involve generating a three-dimensional meshmodel of the object or objects, and using transformations and animatedtextures of the model within the video to achieve the transformation. Inother examples, tracking of points on an object may be used to place animage or texture (which may be two dimensional or three dimensional) atthe tracked position. In still further examples, neural network analysisof video frames may be used to place images, models, or textures incontent (e.g., images or frames of video). Augmented reality contentitems thus refer both to the images, models, and textures used to createtransformations in content, as well as to additional modeling andanalysis information needed to achieve such transformations with objectdetection, tracking, and placement.

Real-time video processing can be performed with any kind of video data(e.g., video streams, video files, etc.) saved in a memory of acomputerized system of any kind. For example, a user can load videofiles and save them in a memory of a device, or can generate a videostream using sensors of the device. Additionally, any objects can beprocessed using a computer animation model, such as a human's face andparts of a human body, animals, or non-living things such as chairs,cars, or other objects.

In some examples, when a particular modification is selected along withcontent to be transformed, elements to be transformed are identified bythe computing device, and then detected and tracked if they are presentin the frames of the video. The elements of the object are modifiedaccording to the request for modification, thus transforming the framesof the video stream. Transformation of frames of a video stream can beperformed by different methods for different kinds of transformation.For example, for transformations of frames mostly referring to changingforms of object's elements, characteristic points for each element of anobject are calculated (e.g., using an Active Shape Model (ASM) or otherknown methods). Then, a mesh based on the characteristic points isgenerated for each of the at least one element of the object. This meshis used in the following stage of tracking the elements of the object inthe video stream. In the process of tracking, the mentioned mesh foreach element is aligned with a position of each element. Then,additional points are generated on the mesh. A first set of first pointsis generated for each element based on a request for modification, and aset of second points is generated for each element based on the set offirst points and the request for modification. Then, the frames of thevideo stream can be transformed by modifying the elements of the objecton the basis of the sets of first and second points and the mesh. Insuch method, a background of the modified object can be changed ordistorted as well by tracking and modifying the background.

In some examples, transformations changing some areas of an object usingits elements can be performed by calculating characteristic points foreach element of an object and generating a mesh based on the calculatedcharacteristic points. Points are generated on the mesh, and thenvarious areas based on the points are generated. The elements of theobject are then tracked by aligning the area for each element with aposition for each of the at least one element, and properties of theareas can be modified based on the request for modification, thustransforming the frames of the video stream. Depending on the specificrequest for modification, properties of the mentioned areas can betransformed in different ways. Such modifications may involve changingcolor of areas; removing at least some part of areas from the frames ofthe video stream; including one or more new objects into areas which arebased on a request for modification; and modifying or distorting theelements of an area or object. In various examples, any combination ofsuch modifications or other similar modifications may be used. Forcertain models to be animated, some characteristic points can beselected as control points to be used in determining the entirestate-space of options for the model animation.

In some examples of a computer animation model to transform image datausing face detection, the face is detected on an image with use of aspecific face detection algorithm (e.g., Viola-Jones). Then, an ActiveShape Model (ASM) algorithm is applied to the face region of an image todetect facial feature reference points.

Other methods and algorithms suitable for face detection can be used.For example, in some examples, features are located using a landmark,which represents a distinguishable point present in most of the imagesunder consideration. For facial landmarks, for example, the location ofthe left eye pupil may be used. If an initial landmark is notidentifiable (e.g., if a person has an eyepatch), secondary landmarksmay be used. Such landmark identification procedures may be used for anysuch objects. In some examples, a set of landmarks forms a shape. Shapescan be represented as vectors using the coordinates of the points in theshape. One shape is aligned to another with a similarity transform(allowing translation, scaling, and rotation) that minimizes the averageEuclidean distance between shape points. The mean shape is the mean ofthe aligned training shapes.

In some examples, a search for landmarks from the mean shape aligned tothe position and size of the face determined by a global face detectoris started. Such a search then repeats the steps of suggesting atentative shape by adjusting the locations of shape points by templatematching of the image texture around each point and then conforming thetentative shape to a global shape model until convergence occurs. Insome systems, individual template matches are unreliable, and the shapemodel pools the results of the weak template matches to form a strongeroverall classifier. The entire search is repeated at each level in animage pyramid, from coarse to fine resolution.

A transformation system can capture an image or video stream on a clientdevice (e.g., the client device 102) and perform complex imagemanipulations locally on the client device 102 while maintaining asuitable user experience, computation time, and power consumption. Thecomplex image manipulations may include size and shape changes, emotiontransfers (e.g., changing a face from a frown to a smile), statetransfers (e.g., aging a subject, reducing apparent age, changinggender), style transfers, graphical element application, and any othersuitable image or video manipulation implemented by a convolutionalneural network that has been configured to execute efficiently on theclient device 102.

In some examples, a computer animation model to transform image data canbe used by a system where a user may capture an image or video stream ofthe user (e.g., a selfie) using a client device 102 having a neuralnetwork operating as part of a messaging client 104 operating on theclient device 102. The transformation system operating within themessaging client 104 determines the presence of a face within the imageor video stream and provides modification icons associated with acomputer animation model to transform image data, or the computeranimation model can be present as associated with an interface describedherein. The modification icons include changes that may be the basis formodifying the user's face within the image or video stream as part ofthe modification operation. Once a modification icon is selected, thetransformation system initiates a process to convert the image of theuser to reflect the selected modification icon (e.g., generate a smilingface on the user). A modified image or video stream may be presented ina graphical user interface displayed on the client device 102 as soon asthe image or video stream is captured, and a specified modification isselected. The transformation system may implement a complexconvolutional neural network on a portion of the image or video streamto generate and apply the selected modification. That is, the user maycapture the image or video stream and be presented with a modifiedresult in real-time or near real-time once a modification icon has beenselected. Further, the modification may be persistent while the videostream is being captured, and the selected modification icon remainstoggled. Machine-taught neural networks may be used to enable suchmodifications.

The graphical user interface, presenting the modification performed bythe transformation system, may supply the user with additionalinteraction options. Such options may be based on the interface used toinitiate the content capture and selection of a particular computeranimation model (e.g., initiation from a content creator userinterface). In various examples, a modification may be persistent afteran initial selection of a modification icon. The user may toggle themodification on or off by tapping or otherwise selecting the face beingmodified by the transformation system and store it for later viewing orbrowse to other areas of the imaging application. Where multiple facesare modified by the transformation system, the user may toggle themodification on or off globally by tapping or selecting a single facemodified and displayed within a graphical user interface. In someexamples, individual faces, among a group of multiple faces, may beindividually modified, or such modifications may be individually toggledby tapping or selecting the individual face or a series of individualfaces displayed within the graphical user interface.

A story table 314 stores data regarding collections of messages andassociated image, video, or audio data, which are compiled into acollection (e.g., a story or a gallery). The creation of a particularcollection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., each user forwhich a record is maintained in the entity table 306). A user may createa “personal story” in the form of a collection of content that has beencreated and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, the user interfaceof the messaging client 104 may include an icon that is user-selectableto enable a sending user to add specific content to his or her personalstory.

A collection may also constitute a “live story,” which is a collectionof content from multiple users that is created manually, automatically,or using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example,a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted contentfrom various locations and events. Users whose client devices havelocation services enabled and are at a common location event at aparticular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via auser interface of the messaging client 104, to contribute content to aparticular live story. The live story may be identified to the user bythe messaging client 104, based on his or her location. The end resultis a “live story” told from a community perspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,”which enables a user whose client device 102 is located within aspecific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus)to contribute to a particular collection. In some examples, acontribution to a location story may require a second degree ofauthentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specificorganization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the universitycampus).

As mentioned above, the video table 304 stores video data that, in oneexample, is associated with messages for which records are maintainedwithin the message table 302. Similarly, the image table 312 storesimage data associated with messages for which message data is stored inthe entity table 306. The entity table 306 may associate variousaugmentations from the augmentation table 310 with various images andvideos stored in the image table 312 and the video table 304.

Trained machine learning technique(s) 307 stores parameters that havebeen trained during training of the segmentation estimation system 224.For example, trained machine learning techniques 207 stores the trainedparameters of one or more neural network machine learning techniques.

Segmentation training images 309 stores a plurality of images ofdepictions of real-world bodies of users. The plurality of images storedin the segmentation training images 309 includes various depictions of areal-world body poses together with segmentations of the bodies thatindicate which pixels in the images correspond to the bodies and whichpixels correspond to a background in the images. These segmentationtraining images 309 are used by the segmentation estimation system 224to train the first machine learning technique used to generate asegmentation of one or more bodies depicted in a received RGB monocularimage. In some cases, the segmentation training images 309 includeground truth skeletal key points of one or more bodies depicted in therespective training monocular images. In some cases, the segmentationtraining images 309 include a plurality of image resolutions of bodiesdepicted in the images. The segmentation training images 309 can includelabeled and unlabeled image and video data. The segmentation trainingimages 309 can include a depiction of a whole body of a particular user,an image that lacks a depiction of any user (e.g., a negative image), adepiction of a plurality of users and whole bodies of the users, anddepictions of users at different distances from an image capture device.

Segmentation training images 309 stores a plurality of videos (1-2second video segments) of depictions of real-world bodies of users. Theplurality of videos stored in the segmentation training images 309includes various depictions of real-world bodies. The plurality ofvideos also include ground truth information identifying thesegmentations of the bodies depicted in a subsequent frame relative to acurrent or previous frame in each of the plurality of videos. Thesesegmentation training images 309 are used by the body pose estimationsystem 224 to train the second machine learning technique used topredicts segmentations for a subsequent frame from a received RGBmonocular video of a user's body.

Data Communications Architecture

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message 400,according to some examples, generated by a messaging client 104 forcommunication to a further messaging client 104 or the messaging server118. The content of a particular message 400 is used to populate themessage table 302 stored within the database 126, accessible by themessaging server 118. Similarly, the content of a message 400 is storedin memory as “in-transit” or “in-flight” data of the client device 102or the application servers 114. A message 400 is shown to include thefollowing example components:

-   -   message identifier 402: a unique identifier that identifies the        message 400.    -   message text payload 404: text, to be generated by a user via a        user interface of the client device 102, and that is included in        the message 400.    -   message image payload 406: image data, captured by a camera        component of a client device 102 or retrieved from a memory        component of a client device 102, and that is included in the        message 400. Image data for a sent or received message 400 may        be stored in the image table 312.    -   message video payload 408: video data, captured by a camera        component or retrieved from a memory component of the client        device 102, and that is included in the message 400. Video data        for a sent or received message 400 may be stored in the video        table 304.    -   message audio payload 410: audio data, captured by a microphone        or retrieved from a memory component of the client device 102,        and that is included in the message 400.    -   message augmentation data 412: augmentation data (e.g., filters,        stickers, or other annotations or enhancements) that represents        augmentations to be applied to message image payload 406,        message video payload 408, or message audio payload 410 of the        message 400. Augmentation data for a sent or received message        400 may be stored in the augmentation table 310.    -   message duration parameter 414: parameter value indicating, in        seconds, the amount of time for which content of the message        (e.g., the message image payload 406, message video payload 408,        message audio payload 410) is to be presented or made accessible        to a user via the messaging client 104.    -   message geolocation parameter 416: geolocation data (e.g.,        latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates) associated with the        content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation        parameter 416 values may be included in the payload, each of        these parameter values being associated with respect to content        items included in the content (e.g., a specific image within the        message image payload 406, or a specific video in the message        video payload 408).    -   message story identifier 418: identifier values identifying one        or more content collections (e.g., “stories” identified in the        story table 314) with which a particular content item in the        message image payload 406 of the message 400 is associated. For        example, multiple images within the message image payload 406        may each be associated with multiple content collections using        identifier values.    -   message tag 420: each message 400 may be tagged with multiple        tags, each of which is indicative of the subject matter of        content included in the message payload. For example, where a        particular image included in the message image payload 406        depicts an animal (e.g., a lion), a tag value may be included        within the message tag 420 that is indicative of the relevant        animal. Tag values may be generated manually, based on user        input, or may be automatically generated using, for example,        image recognition.    -   message sender identifier 422: an identifier (e.g., a messaging        system identifier, email address, or device identifier)        indicative of a user of the client device 102 on which the        message 400 was generated and from which the message 400 was        sent.    -   message receiver identifier 424: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address, or device        identifier) indicative of a user of the client device 102 to        which the message 400 is addressed.

The contents (e.g., values) of the various components of message 400 maybe pointers to locations in tables within which content data values arestored. For example, an image value in the message image payload 406 maybe a pointer to (or address of) a location within an image table 312.Similarly, values within the message video payload 408 may point to datastored within a video table 304, values stored within the messageaugmentation data 412 may point to data stored in an augmentation table310, values stored within the message story identifier 418 may point todata stored in a story table 314, and values stored within the messagesender identifier 422 and the message receiver identifier 424 may pointto user records stored within an entity table 306.

Segmentation Estimation System

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example segmentation estimationsystem 224, according to example examples. Segmentation estimationsystem 224 includes a set of components 510 that operate on a set ofinput data (e.g., a monocular image 501 depicting a real body of a user,segmentation training image data 502, monocular video 503 depicting abody of a user, and segmentation training video data 504). The set ofinput data is obtained from segmentation training images 309 stored indatabase(s) (FIG. 3) during the training phases and is obtained from anRGB camera of a client device 102 when an AR/VR application is beingused, such as by a messaging client 104. Segmentation estimation system224 includes a first machine learning technique module 512, asegmentation module 514, a second machine learning technique module 517,a smoothed segmentation module 516, an image modification module 518, avisual effect selection module 519 and an image display module 520.

During training, the segmentation estimation system 224 receives a giventraining image (e.g., monocular image 501 depicting a real-world body,such as an image of a user's whole body including a face, arms, torso,hips and legs or depicting multiple real-world bodies of multiple userssimultaneously) from segmentation training image data 502. Thesegmentation estimation system 224 applies one or more machine learningtechniques using the first machine learning technique module 512 on thegiven training image. The first machine learning technique module 512extracts one or more features from the given training image to estimatea segmentation of the body or bodies of the user(s) depicted in theimage. For example, the first machine learning technique module 512obtains the given training image depicting a user's face, arms, torso,hips and legs. The first machine learning technique module 512 extractsfeatures from the image that correspond to the user's face and arms toidentify one or more skeletal joints and segments or specifies whichpixels in the image correspond to the user's body and which pixelscorrespond to a background (or do not correspond to the user's body).

The first machine learning technique module 512 retrieves segmentationinformation associated with the given training image. The first machinelearning technique module 512 compares the estimated segmentation (thatcan include an identification of multiple bodies in the image in casethere exist multiple users in the image) with the ground truthsegmentation provided as part of the segmentation training image data502. Based on a difference threshold of the comparison, the firstmachine learning technique module 512 updates one or more coefficientsand obtains one or more additional segmentation training images. After aspecified number of epochs or batches of training images have beenprocessed and/or when the difference threshold reaches a specifiedvalue, the first machine learning technique module 512 completestraining and the parameters and coefficients of the first machinelearning technique module 512 are stored in the trained machine learningtechnique(s) 307.

In some examples, the first machine learning technique module 512implements multiple segmentation models of the first machine learningtechnique. Each segmentation model of the first machine learningtechnique may be trained on a different set of training imagesassociated with a specific resolution. Namely, one of the segmentationmodels can be trained to estimate a segmentation for images having afirst resolution (or a first range of resolutions). A second of thesegmentation models can be trained to estimate a segmentation for imageshaving a second resolution (or a second range of resolutions differentfrom the first range of resolutions). In this way, differentcomplexities of the first machine learning technique can be trained andstored. When a given device having certain capabilities uses the AR/VRapplication, a corresponding one of the various segmentation models canbe provided to perform the segmentation that matches the capabilities ofthe given device. In some cases, multiple segmentation models of each ofthe machine leaning techniques implemented by the segmentationestimation system 224 can be provided each configured to operate with adifferent level of complexity. The appropriate segmentation model(s)with the appropriate level of complexity can then be provided to aclient device 102 for segmenting one or more images.

During training, segmentation estimation system 224 receives a giventraining video (e.g., monocular video 503 depicting a real-world body ormultiple bodies of multiple users depicted simultaneously in a video,such as an image of a user's face, arms, torso, hips and legs) fromsegmentation training image data 502. The segmentation estimation system224 applies one or more machine learning techniques using the secondmachine learning technique module 517 on the given training video. Thesecond machine learning technique module 517 extracts one or morefeatures from the given training video to predict a segmentation (of theone or more users) for a frame subsequent to the current or previousframe of the video. For example, the second machine learning techniquemodule 517 obtains the given training video depicting movement of auser's face, arms, torso, hips and legs across a set of frames in 1-2seconds of video. The second machine learning technique module 517extracts features from the video that correspond to the user's face andarms to predict a segmentation of the user or multiple users in a framethat is subsequent to a current or previous frame of the video.

The second machine learning technique module 517 predicts thesegmentation for one or more subsequent frames that follow the giventraining video frame. For example, the second machine learning techniquemodule 517 may process frames 2-25 of a given video to predict asegmentation of a body or bodies depicted in frame 26 of the same video.The second machine learning technique module 517 compares thedetermined/predicted segmentation with the ground truth segmentationprovided as part of the segmentation training image data 502. The groundtruth segmentation may provide the ground truth segmentation for theframe 26 for movement of a body depicted in frames 2-25. Based on adifference threshold of the comparison, the second machine learningtechnique module 517 updates one or more coefficients and obtains one ormore additional segmentation training videos. After a specified numberof epochs or batches of training videos have been processed and/or whenthe difference threshold reaches a specified value, the second machinelearning technique module 517 completes training and the parameters andcoefficients of the second machine learning technique module 517 arestored in the trained machine learning technique(s) 307.

Specifically, the second machine learning technique module 517 processesa sequence of video frames that immediately precede the current frame by1-2 seconds. The second machine learning technique module 517 analyzesmovement of the segmentation across the sequence of the video frames topredict estimated a segmentation in the current frame or for a framethat is subsequent to the current frame.

After training, segmentation estimation system 224 receives an inputimage 501 (e.g., monocular image depicting a real-world body or multiplebodies, such as an image of a user's face, arms, torso, hips and legs)as a single RGB image from a client device 102. The segmentationestimation system 224 applies the first trained machine learningtechnique module 512 to the received input image 501 to extract one ormore features representing the segmentation of the body or bodiesdepicted in the image 501. The segmentation estimation system 224applies the second trained machine learning technique module 517 to thereceived monocular video 503 to extract one or more features of the bodyor bodies depicted in the video 503 and to generate a prediction orestimation of the segmentation in a subsequent frame.

The smoothed segmentation module 516 compares the estimated segmentationfor the current frame generated by the first machine learning techniquemodule 512 with the predicted segmentation generated by the secondmachine learning technique module 517. The smoothed segmentation module516 adjusts, smooths or filters any differences in the segmentation togenerate a smoothed segmentation for the current frame. In some cases,the smoothed segmentation module 516 generates a segmentation borderbased on the smoothed segmentation. The segmentation border indicates aset of pixels that are positioned at a border or the edges of thesegmentation. Namely, the segmentation border pixels correspond topixels between a background and the body of the user depicted in theimage. In some cases, the segmentation border pixels have a specifiedwidth (e.g., 3-4 pixels) in which case, the segmentation borderrepresents edges of the segmentation of the specified width. In somecases, the smoothed segmentation module 516 applies a guided filter tothe smoothed segmentation to improve segmentation quality of portions ofthe smoothed segmentations that are within a specified number of pixelsof edges of the smoothed segmentation.

The number of previous video frames or duration of the previouslyreceived video segments analyzed by the second machine learningtechnique module 517 may be set by a user, predetermined, or dynamicallyadjusted. In some cases, the number of previous video frames that areanalyzed may be increased (e.g., from 1 second of video to 2 seconds ofvideo) if the amount of filtering or correction of the segmentationdetermined by the first machine learning technique module 512 exceeds aspecified threshold. In some cases, the number of previous video framesthat are analyzed may be increased (e.g., from 1 second of video to 2seconds of video) based on a distance between a user and a cameraexceeding a specified threshold.

Visual effect selection module 519 receives from a client device 102 aselection of a virtualization mode. For example, a user of the AR/VRapplication may be presented with a list of mode options. In response toreceiving a user selection of a given mode option from the list, thegiven mode is provided to the visual effect selection module 519 as theselection of the virtualization mode. The mode options may include abackground removal option (e.g., replacement of a real-world backgroundwith a virtual background), an occlusion option (e.g., addition of oneor more augmented reality elements to the segmentation or body of theuser), a cloning option (e.g., an option to copy and paste one or moreimages of the user by replicating the segmentation on one or moredesigned positions in the image), a video cutout option (e.g., to removeone or more portions of the user's body), a contour effects option(e.g., to present one or more augmented reality elements, such as a glowor shadow, around the segmentation border), an animated frames option, abody mask option, a recoloring option (e.g., to change a color ofportions of the user's body, such as to replace clothing worn by theuser), a ripples, particles or sparkles option (e.g., to display one ormore augmented reality elements in the image background), a disappearingoption and a body parts cut option. The virtualization mode selectioncontrols the way in which the segmentation of the user's body affectsthe display of visual elements in the image relative to the user. FIGS.6-9 show illustrative outputs of one or more of the options that can beselected by the visual effect selection module 519 and are discussedbelow.

The image modification module 518 can adjust the image captured by thecamera based on the mode selected by the visual effect selection module519 and the smoothed segmentation received from the smoothedsegmentation module 516. The image modification module 518 adjusts theway in which the background or user(s) is/are presented in an image,such as by changing the background, portions of the user, a visualattribute and/or a position of the user in the image. Image displaymodule 520 combines the adjustments made by the image modificationmodule 518 into the received monocular image depicting the user's body.The image is provided by the image display module 520 to the clientdevice 102 and can then be sent to another user or stored for lateraccess and display.

FIGS. 6-9 are diagrammatic representations of outputs of thesegmentation estimation system, in accordance with some examples. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 6, the segmentation estimation system 224generates a smoothed segmentation 610. The segmentation estimationsystem 224 can also generate, based on the smoothed segmentation 610, asegmentation border 620. Based on the smoothed segmentation 610 and/orthe segmentation border 620, the segmentation estimation system 224 canapply one or more visual effects to the monocular image or video.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 7, the segmentation estimation system224 can modify a background of the monocular image or video.Specifically, the segmentation estimation system 224 can receive amonocular image 710. The segmentation estimation system 224 can generatea smoothed segmentation (e.g., smoothed segmentation 610), as discussedabove. The segmentation estimation system 224 can determine that thewhole body of the user corresponds to the collection of pixels 712 andthe background corresponds to the collection of pixels 716. Thesegmentation estimation system 224 can receive a user input thatnavigates a user interface element 714 to modify the background of themonocular image 710. In response, the segmentation estimation system 224generates the image 720 in which the collection of pixels 716corresponding to the background have been replaced by another image orvideo 722. The image or video 722 may be selected by the user throughthe user interface element 714.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the visualization mode selected by theuser can include a selection of a background removal (replacementoption). In response to receiving the selection of this option, thesegmentation estimation system 224 identifies pixels of the monocularimage 710 corresponding to a background (e.g., the collection of pixels716) of the monocular image 710 based on the segmentation (e.g., thesegmentation 610). To generate the image 720, the segmentationestimation system 224 replaces the collection of pixels 716 of themonocular image 710 corresponding to the background with a differentimage or video 722.

In some cases, the visualization mode selected by the user can includealso a recoloring option. In this case, in addition to or alternative toreplacing pixels of the background, the segmentation estimation system224 replaces pixels of the whole body depicted in the image.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the segmentation estimation system 224identifying a collection of pixels 712 of the monocular image 710corresponding to the whole body of the user based on the segmentation(e.g., the segmentation 610). The segmentation estimation system 224changes a color or attribute of one or more portions of the collectionof pixels, such as those pixels corresponding to a particular body partof the user (e.g., the arm). Specifically, as shown in image 730, thesegmentation estimation system 224 replaces the collection of pixels 716of the monocular image 710 corresponding to the background with adifferent image or video 732 and also changes a color or attribute ofone or more portions 734 of the collection of pixels corresponding tothe arm of the user depicted in the image. In some cases, the color orattribute to which the portion of the collection of pixels is changed isselected by the user, such as by navigating the user interface element714.

In some cases, the visualization mode selected by the user can includealso a body parts cut option. In this case, in addition to oralternative to replacing pixels of the background, the segmentationestimation system 224 replaces pixels of some part or portion of thewhole body depicted in the image. For example, the segmentationestimation system 224 identifying a collection of pixels 712 of themonocular image 710 corresponding to the whole body of the user based onthe segmentation (e.g., the segmentation 610). The segmentationestimation system 224 changes a color or attribute of one or moreportions of the collection of pixels, such as those pixels correspondingto a particular body part of the user (e.g., the arm). The color orattribute that is used to replace the pixels of the portions of thecollection of pixels can be selected based on the background pixels.Specifically, the segmentation estimation system 224 replaces a color orattribute of one or more portions 734 of the collection of pixelscorresponding to the arm of the user depicted in the image with pixelvalues that match the pixels in the background. In this way, the one ormore portions 734 of the collection of pixels appear in the image tohave been removed from the whole body of the user.

In some cases, a user input is received that selects a skeletal regionto remove (e.g., the arms and legs region). In response to this input,the segmentation estimation system 224 accesses a skeletal model thatspecifies skeletal key points corresponding to the selected skeletalregion. The segmentation estimation system 224 then selects the portionof the collection of pixels that correspond to the skeletal key pointsto recolor to match the background pixels surrounding the collection ofpixels.

In some cases, the visualization mode selected by the user can includealso a disappearing option. In this case, in addition to or alternativeto replacing pixels of the background, the segmentation estimationsystem 224 replaces or removes pixels of the whole body depicted in theimage. For example, the segmentation estimation system 224 identifying acollection of pixels 712 of the monocular image 710 corresponding to thewhole body of the user based on the segmentation (e.g., the segmentation610). The segmentation estimation system 224 changes a color orattribute of the collection of pixels to match the background imagepixels. In this way, the collection of pixels of the segmentation 610corresponding to the whole body of the user appear in the image to havebeen removed, leaving only the background in the modified image.

In some cases, the visualization mode selected by the user can includealso a cloning option. In this case, in addition to or alternative toreplacing pixels of the background, the segmentation estimation system224 replicates the portions of the image corresponding to thesegmentation 610 one or more times. The replicated portions can then bedisplayed at one or more user specified or automatically determinedlocations, such as next to the user depicted in the image and/or behindthe user depicted in the image. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, thesegmentation estimation system 224 identifying a collection of pixels810 of the monocular image 800 corresponding to the whole body of theuser based on the segmentation (e.g., the segmentation 610). As shown inFIG. 8, the segmentation estimation system 224 copies the collection ofpixels 810 of the monocular image 800. The segmentation estimationsystem 224 adds the copied collection of pixels 820 to another portionof the monocular image to be displayed adjacent to or relative to thecollection of pixels 810 of the monocular image 800 corresponding to thewhole body. The copied collection of pixels 820 can be added to theimage 800 any number of times so that multiple instances or copies ofthe collection of pixels 810 corresponding to the user appear at thesame time in the modified image 800.

In some cases, the visualization mode selected by the user can includealso an occlusion option. In this case, in addition to or alternative toreplacing pixels of the background, the segmentation estimation system224 adds one or more graphical elements to pixels of the whole bodydepicted in the image. Specifically, the segmentation estimation system224 identifying a collection of pixels 712 of the monocular image 710corresponding to the whole body of the user based on the segmentation(e.g., the segmentation 610). The segmentation estimation system 224retrieves a graphical element (e.g., augmented reality wings, horns, oroutfit, or other user selected graphical element). The segmentationestimation system 224 selects a display position for the graphicalelement based on user input or based on a type of graphical element thathas been retrieved. The segmentation estimation system 224 identifies aset of pixels in the collection of pixels corresponding to the wholebody of the user that match the body part to which the graphical elementis associated with. The segmentation estimation system 224 adds theretrieved graphical element adjacent to or in replacement of theidentified set of pixels. For example, the segmentation estimationsystem 224 adds wings to a set of pixels associated with shoulders ofthe whole body.

In some cases, the segmentation estimation system 224 accesses asegmentation border 620 of the whole body depicted in the image inresponse to receiving a contour option. In this case, the segmentationestimation system 224 can add the graphical element as extending fromthe segmentation border 620. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, thesegmentation estimation system 224 adds a shadow or glow 920 around asegmentation border of a user 910 depicted in the image 900. Thisresults in an appearance of a glow or shadow around or behind edges ofthe user 910 depicted in the image. Specifically, the segmentationestimation system 224 identifies a border of the whole body of the userbased on edges of the collection of pixels of the segmentation 610. Thesegmentation estimation system 224 adds a glowing graphical element orshadow graphical element along the border of the whole body of the user.

FIG. 10A is a flowchart of a process 1000 for generating a segmentationof a user depicted in an image, in accordance with some exampleexamples. Although the flowchart can describe the operations as asequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallelor concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may bere-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed.A process may correspond to a method, a procedure, and the like. Thesteps of methods may be performed in whole or in part, may be performedin conjunction with some or all of the steps in other methods, and maybe performed by any number of different systems or any portion thereof,such as a processor included in any of the systems.

At operation 1001, a client device 102 receives a monocular image thatincludes a depiction of a whole body of a user, as discussed above. Forexample, the segmentation estimation system 224 can capture an imagethat depicts one or more whole bodies of one or more users (e.g., aplurality of users).

At operation 1002, the client device 102 generates a segmentation of thewhole body of the user based on the monocular image, as discussed above.As an example, the segmentation estimation system 224 can generate aplurality of segmentations of the plurality of whole bodies by applyinga first machine learning technique to the image.

At operation 1003, the client device 102 accesses a video feedcomprising a plurality of monocular images received prior to themonocular image, as discussed above. For example, the segmentationestimation system 224 can apply a second machine learning technique to aplurality of previously received images that depict the plurality ofwhole bodies to predict segmentations of the plurality of whole bodiesfor the currently received image.

At operation 1004, the client device 102 smooths, using the video feed,the segmentation of the whole body generated based on the monocularimage to provide a smoothed segmentation, as discussed above. Forexample, the segmentation estimation system 224 can compute a deviationbetween the segmentations of the plurality of whole bodies generatedbased on the first machine learning technique with the predictedsegmentations generated by the second machine learning techniques. Thesegmentation estimation system 224 can modify the segmentation generatedby the first machine learning technique based on the deviation.

At operation 1005, the client device 102 applies one or more visualeffects to the monocular image based on the smoothed segmentation, asdiscussed above. For example, the segmentation estimation system 224 canreplace a background of the image that depicts the plurality ofsegmentations of the whole bodies of the users.

FIG. 10B is a flowchart of a process 1010 for generating a segmentationof a user depicted in an image, in accordance with some exampleexamples. Although the flowchart can describe the operations as asequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallelor concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may bere-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed.A process may correspond to a method, a procedure, and the like. Thesteps of methods may be performed in whole or in part, may be performedin conjunction with some or all of the steps in other methods, and maybe performed by any number of different systems or any portion thereof,such as a processor included in any of the systems.

At operation 1011, a client device 102 receives a monocular image thatincludes a depiction of a whole body of a user, as discussed above.

At operation 1012, the client device 102 generates a segmentation of thewhole body of the user based on the monocular image, as discussed above.For example, the segmentation estimation system 224 can apply the firstand/or second machine learning techniques on the monocular image tosegment the whole body of one or more users.

At operation 1013, the client device 102 receives input that selects avisualization mode, as discussed above.

At operation 1014, the client device 102 applies one or more visualeffects corresponding to the visualization mode to the monocular imagebased on the segmentation, as discussed above.

Machine Architecture

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of the machine 1100 withinwhich instructions 1108 (e.g., software, a program, an application, anapplet, an app, or other executable code) for causing the machine 1100to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may beexecuted. For example, the instructions 1108 may cause the machine 1100to execute any one or more of the methods described herein. Theinstructions 1108 transform the general, non-programmed machine 1100into a particular machine 1100 programmed to carry out the described andillustrated functions in the manner described. The machine 1100 mayoperate as a standalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) toother machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 1100 may operatein the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in aserver-client network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine 1100 maycomprise, but not be limited to, a server computer, a client computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook,a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), anentertainment media system, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a mobiledevice, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch), a smart home device(e.g., a smart appliance), other smart devices, a web appliance, anetwork router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machinecapable of executing the instructions 1108, sequentially or otherwise,that specify actions to be taken by the machine 1100. Further, whileonly a single machine 1100 is illustrated, the term “machine” shall alsobe taken to include a collection of machines that individually orjointly execute the instructions 1108 to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein. The machine 1100, for example, maycomprise the client device 102 or any one of a number of server devicesforming part of the messaging server system 108. In some examples, themachine 1100 may also comprise both client and server systems, withcertain operations of a particular method or algorithm being performedon the server-side and with certain operations of the particular methodor algorithm being performed on the client-side.

The machine 1100 may include processors 1102, memory 1104, andinput/output (I/O) components 1138, which may be configured tocommunicate with each other via a bus 1140. In an example, theprocessors 1102 (e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a ReducedInstruction Set Computing (RISC) Processor, a Complex Instruction SetComputing (CISC) Processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a DigitalSignal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC), a Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC), another processor,or any suitable combination thereof) may include, for example, aprocessor 1106 and a processor 1110 that execute the instructions 1108.The term “processor” is intended to include multi-core processors thatmay comprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred toas “cores”) that may execute instructions contemporaneously. AlthoughFIG. 11 shows multiple processors 1102, the machine 1100 may include asingle processor with a single-core, a single processor with multiplecores (e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors with a singlecore, multiple processors with multiples cores, or any combinationthereof.

The memory 1104 includes a main memory 1112, a static memory 1114, and astorage unit 1116, all accessible to the processors 1102 via the bus1140. The main memory 1104, the static memory 1114, and the storage unit1116 store the instructions 1108 embodying any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 1108 mayalso reside, completely or partially, within the main memory 1112,within the static memory 1114, within machine-readable medium 1118within the storage unit 1116, within at least one of the processors 1102(e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or any suitable combinationthereof, during execution thereof by the machine 1100.

The I/O components 1138 may include a wide variety of components toreceive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information,exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/Ocomponents 1138 that are included in a particular machine will depend onthe type of machine. For example, portable machines such as mobilephones may include a touch input device or other such input mechanisms,while a headless server machine will likely not include such a touchinput device. It will be appreciated that the I/O components 1138 mayinclude many other components that are not shown in FIG. 11. In variousexamples, the I/O components 1138 may include user output components1124 and user input components 1126. The user output components 1124 mayinclude visual components (e.g., a display such as a plasma displaypanel (PDP), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), acousticcomponents (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., a vibratory motor,resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and so forth. The userinput components 1126 may include alphanumeric input components (e.g., akeyboard, a touch screen configured to receive alphanumeric input, aphoto-optical keyboard, or other alphanumeric input components),point-based input components (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, ajoystick, a motion sensor, or another pointing instrument), tactileinput components (e.g., a physical button, a touch screen that provideslocation and force of touches or touch gestures, or other tactile inputcomponents), audio input components (e.g., a microphone), and the like.

In further examples, the I/O components 1138 may include biometriccomponents 1128, motion components 1130, environmental components 1132,or position components 1134, among a wide array of other components. Forexample, the biometric components 1128 include components to detectexpressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, vocalexpressions, body gestures, or eye-tracking), measure biosignals (e.g.,blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, or brainwaves), identify a person (e.g., voice identification, retinalidentification, facial identification, fingerprint identification, orelectroencephalogram-based identification), and the like. The motioncomponents 1130 include acceleration sensor components (e.g.,accelerometer), gravitation sensor components, rotation sensorcomponents (e.g., gyroscope).

The environmental components 1132 include, for example, one or cameras(with still image/photograph and video capabilities), illuminationsensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components(e.g., one or more thermometers that detect ambient temperature),humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g.,barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphonesthat detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g.,infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gasdetection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases forsafety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other componentsthat may provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding toa surrounding physical environment.

With respect to cameras, the client device 102 may have a camera systemcomprising, for example, front cameras on a front surface of the clientdevice 102 and rear cameras on a rear surface of the client device 102.The front cameras may, for example, be used to capture still images andvideo of a user of the client device 102 (e.g., “selfies”), which maythen be augmented with augmentation data (e.g., filters) describedabove. The rear cameras may, for example, be used to capture stillimages and videos in a more traditional camera mode, with these imagessimilarly being augmented with augmentation data. In addition to frontand rear cameras, the client device 102 may also include a 3600 camerafor capturing 3600 photographs and videos.

Further, the camera system of a client device 102 may include dual rearcameras (e.g., a primary camera as well as a depth-sensing camera), oreven triple, quad or penta rear camera configurations on the front andrear sides of the client device 102. These multiple cameras systems mayinclude a wide camera, an ultra-wide camera, a telephoto camera, a macrocamera, and a depth sensor, for example.

The position components 1134 include location sensor components (e.g., aGPS receiver component), altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters orbarometers that detect air pressure from which altitude may be derived),orientation sensor components (e.g., magnetometers), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies.The I/O components 1138 further include communication components 1136operable to couple the machine 1100 to a network 1120 or devices 1122via respective coupling or connections. For example, the communicationcomponents 1136 may include a network interface component or anothersuitable device to interface with the network 1120. In further examples,the communication components 1136 may include wired communicationcomponents, wireless communication components, cellular communicationcomponents, Near Field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth®components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and othercommunication components to provide communication via other modalities.The devices 1122 may be another machine or any of a wide variety ofperipheral devices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a USB).

Moreover, the communication components 1136 may detect identifiers orinclude components operable to detect identifiers. For example, thecommunication components 1136 may include Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components,optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detectone-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code,multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Azteccode, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2Dbar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components(e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, avariety of information may be derived via the communication components1136, such as location via Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation, locationvia Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting an NFC beaconsignal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

The various memories (e.g., main memory 1112, static memory 1114, andmemory of the processors 1102) and storage unit 1116 may store one ormore sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., software) embodyingor used by any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein. These instructions (e.g., the instructions 1108), when executedby processors 1102, cause various operations to implement the disclosedexamples.

The instructions 1108 may be transmitted or received over the network1120, using a transmission medium, via a network interface device (e.g.,a network interface component included in the communication components1136) and using any one of several well-known transfer protocols (e.g.,hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)). Similarly, the instructions 1108may be transmitted or received using a transmission medium via acoupling (e.g., a peer-to-peer coupling) to the devices 1122.

Software Architecture

FIG. 12 is a block diagram 1200 illustrating a software architecture1204, which can be installed on any one or more of the devices describedherein. The software architecture 1204 is supported by hardware such asa machine 1202 that includes processors 1220, memory 1226, and I/Ocomponents 1238. In this example, the software architecture 1204 can beconceptualized as a stack of layers, where each layer provides aparticular functionality. The software architecture 1204 includes layerssuch as an operating system 1212, libraries 1210, frameworks 1208, andapplications 1206. Operationally, the applications 1206 invoke API calls1250 through the software stack and receive messages 1252 in response tothe API calls 1250.

The operating system 1212 manages hardware resources and provides commonservices. The operating system 1212 includes, for example, a kernel1214, services 1216, and drivers 1222. The kernel 1214 acts as anabstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers.For example, the kernel 1214 provides memory management, processormanagement (e.g., scheduling), component management, networking, andsecurity settings, among other functionality. The services 1216 canprovide other common services for the other software layers. The drivers1222 are responsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlyinghardware. For instance, the drivers 1222 can include display drivers,camera drivers, BLUETOOTH® or BLUETOOTH® Low Energy drivers, flashmemory drivers, serial communication drivers (e.g., USB drivers), WI-FI®drivers, audio drivers, power management drivers, and so forth.

The libraries 1210 provide a common low-level infrastructure used by theapplications 1206. The libraries 1210 can include system libraries 1218(e.g., C standard library) that provide functions such as memoryallocation functions, string manipulation functions, mathematicfunctions, and the like. In addition, the libraries 1210 can include APIlibraries 1224 such as media libraries (e.g., libraries to supportpresentation and manipulation of various media formats such as MovingPicture Experts Group-4 (MPEG4), Advanced Video Coding (H.264 or AVC),Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 (MP3), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC),Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) audio codec, Joint Photographic Experts Group(JPEG or JPG), or Portable Network Graphics (PNG)), graphics libraries(e.g., an OpenGL framework used to render in two dimensions (2D) andthree dimensions (3D) in a graphic content on a display), databaselibraries (e.g., SQLite to provide various relational databasefunctions), web libraries (e.g., WebKit to provide web browsingfunctionality), and the like. The libraries 1210 can also include a widevariety of other libraries 1228 to provide many other APIs to theapplications 1206.

The frameworks 1208 provide a common high-level infrastructure that isused by the applications 1206. For example, the frameworks 1208 providevarious graphical user interface (GUI) functions, high-level resourcemanagement, and high-level location services. The frameworks 1208 canprovide a broad spectrum of other APIs that can be used by theapplications 1206, some of which may be specific to a particularoperating system or platform.

In an example, the applications 1206 may include a home application1236, a contacts application 1230, a browser application 1232, a bookreader application 1234, a location application 1242, a mediaapplication 1244, a messaging application 1246, a game application 1248,and a broad assortment of other applications such as a externalapplication 1240. The applications 1206 are programs that executefunctions defined in the programs. Various programming languages can beemployed to create one or more of the applications 1206, structured in avariety of manners, such as object-oriented programming languages (e.g.,Objective-C, Java, or C++) or procedural programming languages (e.g., Cor assembly language). In a specific example, the external application1240 (e.g., an application developed using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ softwaredevelopment kit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of theparticular platform) may be mobile software running on a mobileoperating system such as IOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or anothermobile operating system. In this example, the external application 1240can invoke the API calls 1250 provided by the operating system 1212 tofacilitate functionality described herein.

Glossary

“Carrier signal” refers to any intangible medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by themachine, and includes digital or analog communications signals or otherintangible media to facilitate communication of such instructions.Instructions may be transmitted or received over a network using atransmission medium via a network interface device.

“Client device” refers to any machine that interfaces to acommunications network to obtain resources from one or more serversystems or other client devices. A client device may be, but is notlimited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop, portable digitalassistants (PDAs), smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks, netbooks, laptops,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, game consoles, set-top boxes, or any other communicationdevice that a user may use to access a network.

“Communication network” refers to one or more portions of a network thatmay be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual privatenetwork (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a widearea network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network(MAN), the Internet, a portion of the Internet, a portion of the PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN), a plain old telephone service (POTS)network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi®network, another type of network, or a combination of two or more suchnetworks. For example, a network or a portion of a network may include awireless or cellular network and the coupling may be a Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA) connection, a Global System for Mobilecommunications (GSM) connection, or other types of cellular or wirelesscoupling. In this example, the coupling may implement any of a varietyof types of data transfer technology, such as Single Carrier RadioTransmission Technology (1×RTT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO)technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology, EnhancedData rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology, third GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) including 3G, fourth generation wireless (4G)networks, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High SpeedPacket Access (HSPA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, others defined by variousstandard-setting organizations, other long-range protocols, or otherdata transfer technology.

“Component” refers to a device, physical entity, or logic havingboundaries defined by function or subroutine calls, branch points, APIs,or other technologies that provide for the partitioning ormodularization of particular processing or control functions. Componentsmay be combined via their interfaces with other components to carry outa machine process. A component may be a packaged functional hardwareunit designed for use with other components and a part of a program thatusually performs a particular function of related functions.

Components may constitute either software components (e.g., codeembodied on a machine-readable medium) or hardware components. A“hardware component” is a tangible unit capable of performing certainoperations and may be configured or arranged in a certain physicalmanner. In various examples, one or more computer systems (e.g., astandalone computer system, a client computer system, or a servercomputer system) or one or more hardware components of a computer system(e.g., a processor or a group of processors) may be configured bysoftware (e.g., an application or application portion) as a hardwarecomponent that operates to perform certain operations as describedherein.

A hardware component may also be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware component may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations. A hardwarecomponent may be a special-purpose processor, such as afield-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC). A hardware component may also includeprogrammable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configured bysoftware to perform certain operations. For example, a hardwarecomponent may include software executed by a general-purpose processoror other programmable processor. Once configured by such software,hardware components become specific machines (or specific components ofa machine) uniquely tailored to perform the configured functions and areno longer general-purpose processors. It will be appreciated that thedecision to implement a hardware component mechanically, in dedicatedand permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configuredcircuitry (e.g., configured by software), may be driven by cost and timeconsiderations. Accordingly, the phrase “hardware component” (or“hardware-implemented component”) should be understood to encompass atangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed,permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily configured(e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or to perform certainoperations described herein.

Considering examples in which hardware components are temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed), each of the hardware components need notbe configured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For example,where a hardware component comprises a general-purpose processorconfigured by software to become a special-purpose processor, thegeneral-purpose processor may be configured as respectively differentspecial-purpose processors (e.g., comprising different hardwarecomponents) at different times. Software accordingly configures aparticular processor or processors, for example, to constitute aparticular hardware component at one instance of time and to constitutea different hardware component at a different instance of time.

Hardware components can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware components. Accordingly, the described hardwarecomponents may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Wheremultiple hardware components exist contemporaneously, communications maybe achieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuitsand buses) between or among two or more of the hardware components. Inexamples in which multiple hardware components are configured orinstantiated at different times, communications between such hardwarecomponents may be achieved, for example, through the storage andretrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiplehardware components have access. For example, one hardware component mayperform an operation and store the output of that operation in a memorydevice to which it is communicatively coupled. A further hardwarecomponent may then, at a later time, access the memory device toretrieve and process the stored output. Hardware components may alsoinitiate communications with input or output devices, and can operate ona resource (e.g., a collection of information).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implementedcomponents that operate to perform one or more operations or functionsdescribed herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component”refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors.Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a particular processor or processors beingan example of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations ofa method may be performed by one or more processors 1102 orprocessor-implemented components. Moreover, the one or more processorsmay also operate to support performance of the relevant operations in a“cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS).For example, at least some of the operations may be performed by a groupof computers (as examples of machines including processors), with theseoperations being accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet) and viaone or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an API). The performance ofcertain of the operations may be distributed among the processors, notonly residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number ofmachines. In some examples, the processors or processor-implementedcomponents may be located in a single geographic location (e.g., withina home environment, an office environment, or a server farm). In otherexamples, the processors or processor-implemented components may bedistributed across a number of geographic locations.

“Computer-readable storage medium” refers to both machine-storage mediaand transmission media. Thus, the terms include both storagedevices/media and carrier waves/modulated data signals. The terms“machine-readable medium,” “computer-readable medium” and“device-readable medium” mean the same thing and may be usedinterchangeably in this disclosure.

“Ephemeral message” refers to a message that is accessible for atime-limited duration. An ephemeral message may be a text, an image, avideo and the like. The access time for the ephemeral message may be setby the message sender. Alternatively, the access time may be a defaultsetting or a setting specified by the recipient. Regardless of thesetting technique, the message is transitory.

“Machine storage medium” refers to a single or multiple storage devicesand media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and associatedcaches and servers) that store executable instructions, routines anddata. The term shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limitedto, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media, includingmemory internal or external to processors. Specific examples ofmachine-storage media, computer-storage media and device-storage mediainclude non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductormemory devices, e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), FPGA, andflash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks andremovable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks Theterms “machine-storage medium,” “device-storage medium,”“computer-storage medium” mean the same thing and may be usedinterchangeably in this disclosure. The terms “machine-storage media,”“computer-storage media,” and “device-storage media” specificallyexclude carrier waves, modulated data signals, and other such media, atleast some of which are covered under the term “signal medium.”

“Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” refers to a tangiblemedium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying theinstructions for execution by a machine.

“Signal medium” refers to any intangible medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding, or carrying the instructions for execution by amachine and includes digital or analog communications signals or otherintangible media to facilitate communication of software or data. Theterm “signal medium” shall be taken to include any form of a modulateddata signal, carrier wave, and so forth. The term “modulated datasignal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics setor changed in such a matter as to encode information in the signal. Theterms “transmission medium” and “signal medium” mean the same thing andmay be used interchangeably in this disclosure.

Changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed examples withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. These and otherchanges or modifications are intended to be included within the scope ofthe present disclosure, as expressed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by one or moreprocessors, a monocular image that includes a depiction of a whole bodyof a user; generating, by the one or more processors, a segmentation ofthe whole body of the user based on the monocular image; accessing avideo feed comprising a plurality of monocular images received prior tothe monocular image; smoothing, using the video feed, the segmentationof the whole body generated based on the monocular image to provide asmoothed segmentation; and applying one or more visual effects to themonocular image based on the smoothed segmentation.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the whole body of the user comprises a specifiedcombination of skeletal joints of the user, and wherein the monocularimage includes a depiction of a plurality of bodies of a plurality ofusers that include the user, further comprising generating a pluralityof segmentations of the plurality of bodies of the plurality of users.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monocular image is a first frameof a video, further comprising: generating the segmentation using afirst machine learning technique, wherein smoothing the segmentation ofthe whole body comprises comparing the generated segmentation with aprevious segmentation generated by the first machine learning techniquefrom the plurality of monocular images.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the first machine learning technique comprises a first deepneural network.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising trainingthe first deep neural network by performing operations comprising:receiving training data comprising a plurality of training monocularimages and ground truth segmentations for each of the plurality oftraining monocular images; applying the first deep neural network to afirst training monocular image of the plurality of training monocularimages to estimate a segmentation of a given body depicted in the firsttraining monocular image; computing a deviation between the estimatedsegmentation and the ground truth segmentation associated with the firsttraining monocular image; updating parameters of the first deep neuralnetwork based on the computed deviation; and repeating the applying,computing and updating steps for each of the plurality of trainingmonocular images.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality oftraining monocular images comprise ground truth skeletal key points ofone or more bodies depicted in the respective training monocular images,wherein the first deep neural network estimates skeletal key points ofthe given body depicted in the first training monocular image, furthercomprising updating parameters of the first deep neural network based ona deviation between the estimated skeletal key points and the groundtruth skeletal key points.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein theplurality of training monocular images comprises a plurality of imageresolutions, further comprising generating a plurality of segmentationmodels based on the first deep neural network, a first of the pluralityof segmentation models being trained based on training monocular imageshaving a first of the plurality of image resolutions, a second of theplurality of segmentation models being trained based on trainingmonocular images having a second of the plurality of image resolutions.8. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of training monocularimages comprise a plurality of labeled and unlabeled image and videodata.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of trainingmonocular images comprise a depiction of a whole body of a particularuser, an image that lacks a depiction of any user, a depiction of aplurality of users, and depictions of users at different distances froman image capture device.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein smoothingthe segmentation comprises applying the video feed to a second machinelearning technique to predict one or more segmentations based ondepictions of whole bodies in the plurality of monocular images.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the second machine learning techniquecomprises a second deep neural network, and wherein smoothing thesegmentation comprises comparing the predicted one or more segmentationsof the whole bodies provided by the second deep neural network with thesegmentation of the whole body, in the received monocular image,generated by a first machine learning technique.
 12. The method of claim11, further comprising training the second deep neural network byperforming operations comprising: receiving training data comprising aplurality of training videos and ground truth segmentations for each ofthe plurality of training videos; applying the second deep neuralnetwork to a first training video of the plurality of training videos topredict a segmentation of the body in a frame subsequent to the firsttraining video; computing a deviation between the predicted segmentationof the body and the ground truth segmentation of the body depicted inthe frame subsequent to the first training video; updating parameters ofthe second deep neural network based on the computed deviation; andrepeating the applying, computing and updating steps for each of theplurality of training videos.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of monocular images was received a threshold number of secondsprior to receiving the monocular image.
 14. The method of claim 1,further comprising: computing a segmentation border of the whole body ofthe user.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining oneor more device capabilities of a client device used to capture themonocular image; and selecting a segmentation model to generate thesegmentation based on the one or more device capabilities.
 16. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: applying the one or more visualeffects to the monocular image based on a segmentation border associatedwith the smoothed segmentation.
 17. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising applying a guided filter to improve segmentation quality ofportions of the smoothed segmentations that are within a specifiednumber of pixels of edges of the smoothed segmentation.
 18. The methodof claim 1, wherein applying the one or more visual effects to themonocular image comprises replacing a background of the monocular imagewith a different background or replacing portions of the user depictedin the monocular image with different visual elements.
 19. A systemcomprising: a processor; and a memory component having instructionsstored thereon, when executed by the processor, causes the processor toperform operations comprising: receiving a monocular image that includesa depiction of a whole body of a user; generating a segmentation of thewhole body of the user based on the monocular image; accessing a videofeed comprising a plurality of monocular images received prior to themonocular image; smoothing, using the video feed, the segmentation ofthe whole body generated based on the monocular image to provide asmoothed segmentation; and applying one or more visual effects to themonocular image based on the smoothed segmentation.
 20. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, instructionswhen executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operationscomprising: receiving a monocular image that includes a depiction of awhole body of a user; generating a segmentation of the whole body of theuser based on the monocular image; accessing a video feed comprising aplurality of monocular images received prior to the monocular image;smoothing, using the video feed, the segmentation of the whole bodygenerated based on the monocular image to provide a smoothedsegmentation; and applying one or more visual effects to the monocularimage based on the smoothed segmentation.